Senate Bill 279 aims to establish a grant program for law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin to acquire data-sharing platforms. The bill mandates the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award these grants, which will be available to law enforcement agencies that meet specific criteria for the data-sharing platforms. These criteria include the ability to integrate data from common law enforcement systems in real-time, eliminate redundant records, restrict access to information based on various parameters, and ensure secure data sharing among agencies. Additionally, the platforms must be accessible on commonly used devices and comply with Criminal Justice Information Services standards.

To support the implementation of this grant program, the bill allows the Joint Committee on Finance to provide up to $2,000,000 in each fiscal year of the 2025-27 biennium upon request from the DOJ. This funding is intended to enhance the capabilities of law enforcement agencies by facilitating better data management and sharing, ultimately improving their operational efficiency and effectiveness in serving the community.